JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (88.3 vs 86.3), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Spin
Too close to call
94 vs 93
Control
93 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
85 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
117 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
$249.99 at IQ 86.3 vs $280 at IQ 88.3
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 · $280 · IQ 88.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power92
- 93Control86
- 93Spin94
- 85Forgiveness84
- 87Sweet spot86
- 90Stability88
- 71Maneuverability72
- 85Pop88
- 90Touch82
- 92Consistency86
- 79Swing weight80
- 85Twist weight86
- 55Launch angle60
- 88Plow through88
- 84Softness74
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $249.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 88.3 — better | 86.3 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| Core material | Gen 4 foam-injected polymer | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring |
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 verdict
JOOLA's foam-era flagship. It keeps the Perseus hybrid footprint but adds perimeter foam, so drives leave hotter without the control numbers collapsing.
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 verdict
The James Ignatowich signature build is an unapologetic attack paddle: 16.5 in of reach, a grippy CarbonBite face and a tri-density core that launches drives without giving up the sweet spot the first V2 lacked.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 84 against 74 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on pop, power, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is $30.00999999999999 cheaper at $249.99.
Softness
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 10 points (84 vs 74).
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 8 points (90 vs 82).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 7 points (93 vs 86).
Consistency
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 6 points (92 vs 86).
Which one is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is a narrow pick at this level — consistency 92 vs 86, control 93 vs 86, stability 90 vs 88. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Consistency
- Control
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is a narrow pick at this level — control 93 vs 86, touch 90 vs 82, consistency 92 vs 86. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (88.3 vs 86.8 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $30.00999999999999.
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 84 vs 74, forgiveness 85 vs 84. Its 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 if you want softness (+10), touch (+8), control (+7). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want launch angle (+5). Its swing weight of 117 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88.3 vs 86.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 117 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 92 for power against 90 for JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. That comes from a 16 mm Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring core swinging at 117 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 at 93 versus 86. Its 16 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 94 for spin off its CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face, against 93 for the Raw Toray T700 carbon face on JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16, with the higher forgiveness score (85 vs 84). Twist weight is identical at 6.5, so the gap comes from sweet-spot size and face stability rather than resistance to twisting.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 costs $249.99, $30.00999999999999 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16: 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2: 16 mm Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring core with a CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.5 in handle, long enough that neither forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 85 and sweet spot 87 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 7.9 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (117 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads on softness by 10 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $280 vs $249.99, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Perseus Pro V 16
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Perseus Pro IV 14
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs OMNI 16
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Prism Flash V2 16
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs J6CR
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Coral Pro
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs CRBN-1X
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Coral Pro
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs OMNI 16
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Ultré Power 2
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Agassi Pro 16
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.